Intro

Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures is a puzzle game, similar to Boulder Dash, where you use elements to get to buried gems and diamonds.

Gameplay 9/10

The objective of Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures is to find gems which you discover in a sacred tomb in the wilderness somewhere. There are many elements in the game that help you to achieve this. There are boulders, acid, 8 balls, glass blocks, lifts and much, much more and each object has different properties

There are many different types of elements that makes every level different from the next

that you take advantage of to complete the level. There are also monsters you discover which kill you if touched. The second way you can die is by an object hitting you from a height (which becomes somewhat ironic I died because a gem fell on me). Even though there are so many objects to contend with, the tutorial is expertly done, and explains what each element does and lets you experiment with them in the tutorial levels. Even if you do get stuck on a level, you are able to skip it and come back later.

The level design is amazing and is different every level. The difficulty is challenging but not frustrating, and for me it is perfect. I feel a great sense of achievement when I complete a level, and the different game elements make the levels so differentiated that each new stage is a new challenge. This kept the game varied and interesting, which is hard to do with 100 levels (not including the tutorial).

There is a unique save system while playing. When you have reached to a certain point in a level, you are able to save that level state. So if you die further down the line you are able to load that saved state quickly and you don’t have to start from the beginning. I found that I didn’t use this very often, just because I was so focused on completing the level that I forgot to save it (much to my dismay when I found out I have moved a block wrong). To restart a level you need to go into the menu and then click restart. I would have preferred a quick restart button on the screen, but it was no big deal. You are also able to zoom in and out of levels which comes in handy when you first enter a level and you need to examine your surroundings. Another great feature is that you can have multiple players meaning that you can have two people play the game with two separate saved data.

The levels are well presented to the smallest detail

The graphics are vibrant and especially detailed. Even though they may not be the most dramatic graphics the detail such as the ivy growing on the level border and how the level border itself is made up of strung together logs adds atmosphere to the game. Furthermore, the game ran very smoothly and I never experienced any lag at any time. I especially love the beginning cutscene.

Controls 9/10

There are three control systems you are able to use: D-pad, Swipe and touch. D-pad is my preferred method, even though it seems a bit small as I occasionally miss the button. Swipe involves swiping across the screen the direction you want to go and Touch consists of touching at the top, bottom, right or left of the screen to move in that direction. I found all methods worked reasonably well, with a few hitches, but in the end it comes down to preference.

Sound 10/10

I love the sound in Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures. It is so detailed and the soundtrack is perfect. While playing, there is a quiet soundtrack playing in the background that keeps the game interesting. The soundtrack sounds like an Indiana Jones type music and fits very well with the mood and story of the game. The sound effects are also very nice, from the simple stepping sound when you move, to the high-pitched creaking when a new level is formed. Altogether the sound is perfect and gives the impression of a Indiana Jones esq. feel.

The menus are clear and responsive, yet still retain a nice design

Menus 10/10

The menus are very well presented and also match the mood of the game. I like how every selection you make there is a small click or heavy clunk depending on whether you are selecting the options or bringing down the level selection window which links with the sound. This also makes the menus seem automated and very responsive.

Longevity 10/10

100 levels is a load of levels, and after playing for a while, I have not even got half way. It would have been nice to include maybe some achievements or leader boards for how quickly you can complete a level or stage overall. This is just a suggestion and I am not going to mark it down on that.

Price 10/10

Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures is $0.99/£0.59 which is amazing value for the 100 levels you get with the game.

Conclusion 68/70 – 5/5

Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures took me by surprise with its polish and detail and is really an unacknowledged gem on the App Store. However, there is another version which is called Crystal Cave Classic. This includes 170 levels and is $1.99/£1.19. It is aimed at hardcore puzzle gamers whereas Lost Treasures is targeted at a more casual gaming audience. If you see yourself as a hardcore puzzler who wants a bit of a challenge then why not check out Crystal Cave Classic? For me though, Crystal Cave: Lost Treasures is perfect with just enough challenge to keep the game interesting and addicting but not frustrating. If you are still unsure of whether to buy this game, then check out the lite version which includes 30 levels.